If you operate a shipping yard or warehouse operation, it is important to know what a loading dock leveler is and how the different types of levelers can improve the efficiency of your business. At Dura-Ramp, we manufacture a variety of different types of loading ramps that are designed to make it easier to load and unload cargo quickly and safely, and our integrated loading dock leveler systems contribute to this goal.
What are Loading Dock Levelers?
When a truck backs up to a ramp or loading bay, its deck is not usually perfectly level with the loading dock’s surface. This can create problems, as most forklifts and pallet jacks have small wheels that are designed to operate best over fairly flat ground, and this difference in the platform levels can make it difficult to load and unload cargo. A loading dock leveler eliminates this problem by spanning the gap between the truck and the dock and leveling out the ground as much as possible while creating a connection point between the truck deck and the loading ramp. This can be done in various ways using different loading dock leveler systems. Some of the different systems include:
Transition Plates
Transition plates are the simplest system of connecting a truck to a loading ramp. They are merely heavy-duty metal plates that are attached to the loading dock by a hinge. Transition plates operate by having the truck or other type of vehicle line up a cargo deck with the platform, and then the plates simply drop into place to span the gap between ramp and deck.
Integrated Dock Levelers
Integrated dock levelers are one of the most efficient and safe ways to span the gap between a loading ramp and a truck. They use a hydraulic system to lift and extend a platform that sits as flat as possible to offer forklifts a level surface to drive across. These dock levelers also include rubber bumpers for the truck to back up against in order to create a tight connection.
Electric Easy-Lift
The Electric Easy-Lift is an electrical motor that moves the entire surface of the portable loading dock up and down. This system can be incorporated with other loading dock levelers in order to set up a portable loading ramp and connect it to a vehicle for quick and easy loading and unloading.
If you are interested in finding out more about what loading dock levelers are, or if you would like to learn more about the services and products offered by Dura-Ramp, feel free to contact us by filling out a form on our website and we will get back to you as soon as we can.